Farmland Encounters, Hazards and NPCs for Fantasy RPGs
Fantasy Hinterlands Fantasy Encounter Tables System Neutral Tables

Farmland Encounters, Hazards and NPCs for Fantasy RPGs

Duncan Thomson
A cruel bailiff with several guards and a wagon is here to collect taxes.

Simple encounter tables for farmlands in any fantasy setting. Tables for Farmland Encounter Prompts, Farmland Hazards & Distractions and Quick Farmland NPCs.

Fantasy Hinterlands - all | trinkets | farmland encs | hill encs | plains encs | road encs | tavern encs

[Photo by Markus Petritz on Unsplash]

Fantasy Farmland Encounters

Farmland encounters might be farmers inviting the group to join them for a feast, a group of bandits supported by the locals or people gathering to sing to the crops. There might a distressed cow caught in deep mud or a nest of angry wasps.

A place of fields full of crops, rolling hills grazed by goats, scattered villages and outlying farmsteads. A place of gloomy farmers, talkative shepherds, carefree pedlars and maybe a halfling herbalist.

There is a fantasy encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Farmland Encounters.

Fantasy Farmland Encounters on DriveThru RPG Fantasy Hinterlands Tables Bundle on DriveThru RPG

10 Farmland Encounter Prompts

1d1010 Farmland Encounter Prompts
1 A patrol of militia is passing through, checking rumours of a monster.
2 A finely dressed scholar and their large bodyguard are asking about old stories. The locals are wildly speculating on who they really are.
3 A family of farmers is heading to a nearby farm where a special bread has been baked. Invite group along to join a traditional feast.
4 A fortune teller's tent has a queue of locals wanting advice.
5 A wandering minstrel has a colourful cloak many tales. They are here to take part in a ritual where the locals sing to the crops.
6 A group of cunning bandits is supported by the locals and watches for an opportunity to ambush (or swindle) the group.
7 A cruel bailiff with several guards and a wagon is here to collect taxes.
8 A pair of giants are trying to be stealthy, as they are planning on stealing cows. Are carrying trees they try to hide behind.
9 A powerful mage has bought some land and is currently surveying it. Knows little of farming but has retired here for peaceful life.
10 A mounted noble with servants and guards searches for old ruins.

Farmland Hazards and Distractions

1d10There is (or are)...
1 a field of burning crops or a nest of angry wasps
2 something out of place here...
d10 (1-2. an ornate statue 3. an advertisement 4. an observatory
5. a pavilion tent 6. an armoured wagon 7. a baby in a basket
8. a dinosaur 9. a lost tourist 10. stack of books )
3 heavy rain and risk of flooding or a pair of thieving magpies
4 a distressed cow (or pony) caught in a hole (or deep mud)
5 there is the strong smell of ...
d10 (1-2. manure 3. cider 4. something burning 5. dead animals
6. flowers 7. rotten fruit 8. lemons 9. hay 10. cooking meat)
6 unusually hot (or cold) weather or a temporary local market
7 stampede of farm animals or glowing lights on a nearby hillside
8 sounds of ...
d10 (1-2. a heated dispute 3. a hunt 4. distressed animals 5. music
6. thunder 7. wolves 8. a celebration 9. bellowing animals 10. a bell)
9 a sign warning of dogs or strong winds and hail
10 a strange and unique local festival involving cheese (or bees)

Quick Farmland NPCs

1d10DescriptorProfessionwho...
1 gloomy or dwarf farmer has family everywhere
2 halfling or serene pedlar has a gift for a character
3 friendly or grumpy bandit has an old war wound (or dog)
4 lycanthrope or ragged herbalist talks about leylines (or faeries)
5 vulgar or faerie labourer offers them homemade drinks
6 carefree or elderly smith is looking for work (or revenge)
7 restless or beast-kin priest loves gossip (or bad jokes)
8 half-human or rugged hedge wizard is in league with local bandits
9 quarrelsome or elf vagabond always talks in terms of weather
10 talkative or humble herder is with a herd of goats (or pigs)

More Encounters

There is a fantasy encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Farmland Encounters.

Fantasy Farmland Encounters on DriveThru RPG Fantasy Hinterlands Tables Bundle on DriveThru RPG

If you liked these there are Fantasy Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.